Duration

16 days / 16 nights

Days of riding

8 days total

Difficulty

Moderate/Challenging

Price

Per person – £1,800

≥ 2 people £1,600

 ≥ 4 people £1,400

Start planning your adventure!

Dates

25th June to 10th July 2024

11th to 12th July (Naadam extension)

26th July to 10th August 2024

 

Introduction

One of the greenest and most beautiful Mongolian provinces Khovsgol is a natural paradise where the rolling steppes of the Mongolian plain meet the dense forests and tall mountains of Eastern Russia. The dazzling freshwater lakes, stunning unspoiled wilderness and nomadic reindeer herders that Khovsgol is known for make it a must-see destination for just about anyone.

Itinerary

Day 1. Airport transfer and city tour

Day 2-3.  Visit Erdenet city and climb the extinct volcano of Uran Tagoo.

Day 4-6. Saddle up and ride on horseback along the beautiful shores of Lake Khovsgol with our local nomadic guides.

Day 7-9. In stunning unspoilt wilderness we leave the Lake behind and ride through the remote mountain passes of Khovsgol’s National Park.

Day 10. Meet a local wrestling champion, explore the mountain steppe and relax with a local filmmaker as we visit two remote villages.

Day 11-12. Encounter an ancient tribe of reindeer herders and learn about their unique way of life as they teach you traditional skills like riding reindeer, that’s right riding reindeer!

Day 13-14. Breathtaking walking and wild camping in picturesque wildflower meadows and mountain terrain as we return through yet more of Khovsgol’s natural paradise.

Day 15/16. We return to Ulaanbaatar via Erdenet city for a final meal together where we can celebrate our wonderful adventure.

£1,800 per person 

£1,600 for groups ≥2

£1,400 for groups  ≥4

Start planning your adventure!

For more details call +44 (0) 7955285720

Full Itinerary

Ancient Volcanoes

Day 1. Your guide will pick you up from Ulaanbaatar airport or train station and transfer you to the hotel so you can check-in, relax and meet your fellow travellers. Today there is the option to be part of a leisurely city tour starting with Gandan Buddist Monastery that is just round the corner from the hotel.

Day 2.  We take the only road North to Erdenet, Mongolia’s third largest city with a population of 97,000. The road is paved but “rugged”, and we can enjoy the impressive Mongolian scenery. The vast landscapes and infinite horizons give you a sense of just how immense this country is.

Day 3. A short moderate to challenging hike up one of the sacred and extinct volcanoes of Uran and Tulga National Park. The volcanoes hold spiritual significance to local shamans and it is tradition to walk clockwise around the ring-summit. Enjoy the spectacular views of the surrounding landscape before we complete the final leg of our drive North to Mörön, the province capital of Khovsgol.

Sleeping: Hotel/ger Camp    Meals: Restaurant

Horse trekking by Lake Khovsgol

Day 4. A ride to remember. In the remote village of Hatgal, located on the southern tip of the dazzling lake Khovsgol – known as the blue pearl of Asia – we meet our nomadic guides. After some introductions and tea our guides will introduce us to the horses and we will saddle up for the spectacular ride to our first campsite on the shores of the lake. Over the next few days we will ride through mountain meadows, green woodlands and mountain passes as we explore Khovsgol’s breathtaking wilderness. 

Day 5. The shores of the blue pearl. This is a good day to get comfortable in the saddle. The terrain is varied with open meadows and sparse green woodland. As we ride past the last signs of civilisation we can relax on the shores of the lake skimming stones and taking in the majestic beauty of nature. 

Day 6. The wild places of the world. The most amazing day of riding. The scenery only gets more spectacular as we ride between the shores of the lake and the foothills of towering mountains. Wild flower meadows become abundant and many streams flow down from the mountains as we discover a paradise of natural sacred places. 

Sleeping: Wild camping    Meals: Cooked on fire

Horse trekking in the mountains

Day 7. From the lake through the mountains. Our journey takes us away from the shores of the lake, meandering through mountain passes and into lush green valleys with fresh flowing streams and tall trees. These ancient paths have been travelled for generations and you will feel the excitement of adventure stirring.

Day 8.  Exploring peaceful river valleys. The terrain opens up into wider valleys with rolling mountains all around. It’s a day for taking in the majestic beauty and tranquillity of this natural and unchanging landscape.

Day 9.  Riding onto plains. As we descend from the mountains into a vast grassland steppe the remote village of Renchklumb appears in the distance. At the village we are greeted by the local wrestling champion ‘Amartuvshin’ and his family who give us a tour of their home and village.

Sleeping: Wild camping then homestay    Meals: Cooked on fire

The Tsataan Reindeer Herders

Day 10. Exploring the mountain plains and an exclusive film viewing. Spending the morning with Amartuvshin we have the opportunity to learn about Mongolian wrestling and take a look around the village. In the afternoon we drive to another village further North and meet a local filmmaker. He will show us two short documentaries on the Tsataan reindeer herders that he made in the 80s with some very retro kit.

Day 11. The path to an ancient tribe. In Khovsgol’s high mountain plateaus the Tsaatan reindeer herders are believed to practice the oldest form of shamanism on Earth. They are skilled craftspeople and often trade with the local villages. To reach the Tsataan we will must meet with one of the herders at the foot of the mountains. He will lead us on horse back up in the mountains and to the Tsataan’s camp.

Day 12.  Reindeer riding and other traditional skills. Today the Tsaatan will teach us about their unique way of life including showing us how to ride a reindeer. The high mountains are too cold for horses in the winter so the Tsataan train the reindeer for riding so they can get around and keep up with their herds.

Sleeping: Homestays and tepees   Meals: Cooked by hosts on the fire

Return through the Mountains

Day 13. Taking the scenic route. On our return journey to Hatgal we take the opportunity to explore yet more of Khovsgol’s speculator scenery by setting out in off-road vehicles through the mountains. The wildflower meadows here are a sea of colour and the landscape is like something out of a dream. Its the perfect place to take some incredible photos and go for a pleasant stroll with your fellow travellers as we pick out the perfect place to camp for the night. 

Day 14. High mountain passes and spectacular views. As we navigate the high passes there are spectacular views of the valleys below. We are in no rush and you have the opportunity to stop and take short walks whilst enjoying the beautiful scenery before returning to Hatgal and picking up the road to Mörön.

Day 15/16 The journey home. After such an incredible adventure to some beautiful remote places it is time to return to Ulaanbaatar. From Mörön it is a 10 hour drive on paved roads and we will split this over two days allowing us to enjoy our last few days in the country. Once back in Ulaanbaatar you have time to relax at the hotel before meeting that evening in one of the capitals bustling restaurants to celebrate our incredible journey together. Thank you for coming.

Sleeping: Wild camping, ger camps and hotels   Meals: On the fire and in restaurants

Tour Details

Wild camping: We will be spending a lot of time in remote areas during this tour and for most of the trekking sections we will be wild camping. Wild camping is one of the top reasons to visit Mongolia as it is completely free to roam meaning we can pitch our tents anywhere and pick only the best places to stay. There is also almost no light pollution, very little cloud cover and most of the country is at over 1500m which makes Mongolia one of the best locations on earth for stargazing. While wild camping food will be cooked for you by our chef on the campfire. The campfire will be kept lit into the night for you to stay up and see the stars or tell stories with your fellow travellers. Tents are provided but please bring your own sleeping bags or roll mats.

Washing and water: Modern washing facilities in the Mongolian countryside can be limited therefore we opt for a more traditional style. In most cases, water is available from rivers and lakes for washing. This water can be heated up on the fire for basic body and clothes washing or you can go for a swim. If you do swim we ask that you don’t use any products as they can change the chemical make-up of the waterway. If you are using water collected from rivers please check the label and bring soaps and detergents that are natural and biodegradable. Many of Mongolia’s rivers and lakes are so clean they are considered safe to drink by UK standards without treatment, so we would like to keep it that way. For travellers, we supply bottled water and despite the access to mostly clean water we recommend filtering or boiling any water you drink from waterways for at least 1 minute before you drink it. We cannot guarantee it is safe without testing and we don’t want anyone to get sick. 

Temperatures and Weather: Mongolia is known as “The Land of Blue Sky” due to its low annual rainfall and its affinity for beautifully blue cloudless skies. The weather can change quickly however and the summer months of June, July and August do see more rainfall so we still recommend waterproofs as we will be spending a lot of time outdoors. More often than not the weather is glorious but best be prepared. Daytime temperatures during the summer range between 20℃ and 30℃ but the nights can get cold and they can range as much as 5℃ to 20℃. The lower temperatures tend to occur early (May-June) and late in the season (August-September) and altitude is a factor. We recommend bringing a four-seasons sleeping bag and roll mat with you in case the nights do get chilly. We often bring extra bedding for anyone who does get cold but please do not rely on this. 

Horse Riding: The riding terrain on this tour is extremely varied and exciting starting in the gentle foothills by the shores of the lake with the open meadows and then heading into the mountains following streams and riding amongst the trees. Riding experience is not necessary. A sense of adventure and a can-do attitude is all you need. Our local nomadic guides are expert horse handlers and have a wealth of knowledge to keep you safe during the ride and instruct you on your riding style. If you tire of riding we have a support vehicle on hand which will carry all our equipment and pick you up should you require it. We aim to ride for about 6 hours a day and cover about 20-30km which may sound like a lot but is easily achievable even for beginners at a horses walking pace. For more experienced riders there is plenty of opportunity to explore the surrounding wilderness and we always hire some extra local guides so you can break off and feel the wind in your hair if you choose.

If you would like to know more about this tour please give us a call. We are always happy to answer your questions. 

Extras

 Naadam festival – 11th July to 12th July. The whole country comes alive with dancing and music for Mongolia’s most significant cultural event. Naadam is a celebration of Mongolia’s three traditional sports; horse riding, archery and wrestling. Click here to find out more about Naadam.

Nature ♦♦♦♦♦

Culture and people ♦♦♦◊◊

Adventure ♦♦♦♦◊

Includes:

Hotel guest house in Ulaanbaatar

Overnights in Gers and tents

Three meal a day

English speaking guide 

Support staff 

Permits

All activities

 

Excludes:

International flight

Domestic flights

Travel insurance

Sleeping bag

Role mat 

£1,800 per person

£1,600 for groups ≥2

£1,400 for groups  ≥4